Internal combustion engine



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 In vni'or:

4 I flttorlgg J. J. M =CARTHY INTERN AL COMBUSTIGN ENGINE I Aug. 22, 19 39.

Filed i lov 13, 1937 Zia 26% 85b 1 zs Aug. 22, 1939. 'J, J, MCC RTHY 2,110,151

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE 1 Filed Nov. 13, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. l k[ 73 I A9 i 26 '5 60 if I 0 /4 22 4 W L 8 44 1;, /o r i 3- .92 38 7; y n 6 l m .a/ 77 5 27 b has /b I x 7-9 /5 Invenior; /7- W /6 Aug. 22, 1939. J, MCCARTHY 2,170,151

INTERNAL COMBUSTI ON ENGINE Filed Nov. l, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 22, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE John J. McCarthy, Malden, Mass. Application November 13, 1937, Serial No. 174,412

4 Claims.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines, and more particularly, though not exclusively, to engines of the Diesel or compressionignition type.

It is the primary aim and object of the present invention to provide a two-cycle engine in which a cylinder requires only one valve for intake and exhaust which is, moreover, operated by the crank shaft.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a two-cycle engine of the solid-injection type in which said single valve causes straight-through scavenging of the cylinder and also admits the combustionair therein.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for an adjustable lead of the piston in the cylinder over said valve so as to obtain variable degrees of opening of the exhaust ports prior to the opening of the intake ports and, conversely, variable degrees of closing of the intake ports after theexhaust ports are completely closed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an engine of the solid-injection type in which a very high, directed turbulence of the combustion air and of the fuel charge in a cylinder is created so as to obtain a quick and very fine atomization of the fuel and, consequently a quick and complete combustion of the same 30 without any after-burning effects.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an engine having a plurality of radially disposed cylinders, a single valve for each cylinder to control the intake of the scavenging fluid and of the combustion air as well as the exhaust of the products of combustion, and a single crank on the crank shaft of the engine for operating all valves.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for. the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a cross-section through an internal combustion engine embodying the present in-' 55 vention.

Fig. 2 is a section through the engine taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged fragmentary sections, taken on the lines 3-3 and 44, respectively, of Fig. 2. v 5

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section taken on the line 8-6 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged, fragmentary secw tions of one cylinder of the engine, depicting the characteristic results of a selected lead of the piston over the valve.

Referring to the drawings and more particular- 1y to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, the reference numeral 15 I 0 designates a crank case which is preferably cast of aluminum or a similar light weight material. Suitably mounted at H on machined surfaces l2 of the crank case are a plurality of equiangularly spaced cylinders l3. By way of exam- 2o ple, the drawings show six cylinders, but it is to be understood that any other number of cylinders may be employed without departing from the present invention.

The cylinders l3 are, like the crank case, 25 7 preferably, cast of aluminum or a similar lightweight material and provided with steel liners [4, having annular flanges I5 disposed in annular recesses l6 of the cylinders. Suitably mounted by screws H on the outer ends of the cylinders are 3 cylinder heads l8 which also retain the flanges ii of the liners l4 in their recesses l6. More particularly, the screws I! are received in tapped holes which are formed partly in the cylinders l3 and partly in the flanges ii of the liners It, thus locking the latter against rotation relative to the cylinders. The-cylinders l3 as well as the heads. l8 are preferably provided witti''integra1 cooling ribs IQ for air-cooling the cylinders. Of course, the cylinders may be water-cooled if desired, in which case the same would have to be provided with water jackets. For air craft purposes, however, the much simpler air-cooling of the cylinders is perfectly satisfactory.

Slidable longitudinally in each cylinder I3 is a a sleeve valve. 20, having a plurality of peripheral intake ports 2| and a plurality of peripheral exhaust. ports 22 which are spaced longitudinally from said-intake ports. These intake and exhaust ports 2| and 22, respectively, are adapted to 50 cooperate with circular manifolds 23 and 24. 1 respectively, of the cylinders iii. The liners M are provided with ports 25 and 26 which are in permanent communication with the manifolds 23 and 24, respectively, of the cylinders l3 and in u longitudinal alinement with the intake and exhaust ports 2i and 22, respectively, of the valves 20.

The cylinder heads l8 are provided with cylindricalportions IBa which extend considerably into the cylinders l3 and are spaced from the liners Hi to admit .the sleeve valves 28 therebetween. In order to prevent any leakage of the highly compressed combustion charge past the cylinder heads, the same are provided with compression rings 26 on which the valves slide.

Reciprocable in each sleeve valve 20 is a singleacting piston 21, having the usual compression and oil rings 28.

Mounted in suitable journal bearings 29 and 30 in an end cover 3! and in the crank case ill, re-

spectively, is a crank shaft 32 which provides two ofiset cranks 33 and 3d. The end cover 3! is suitably mounted at 35 on the open end of the crank case to. If the present engine is used for air craft, the crankshaft 32 is also the propeller shaft, the propeller (not shown) then being mounted on the forward end 36 of said shaft in any conventional manner. A thus mounted propeller creates a considerable thrust in the crank or propeller shaft 32 in the direction of the arrow 31 in Fig. 2, requiring a thrust bearing 38 which is interposed between-a collar 39 of said shaft and an end wall 40 of the crank case 10.

Rotatably mounted on the crank 33 of the crank shaft is a master connecting rod of conventional design with which the other connecting rods 46 are pivotally connected as at M in Fig. 2. These connecting rods 85 and 46 are also pivotally connected with the wrist pins 48 of the pistons 21.

Likewise, the other crank 34 of thecrank shaft has rotatably mounted thereon a master connecting rod 50 to which other connecting rods 5! are pivotally connected as at 52. The connecting rods 50 and 5! are'als pivotally connected at 53 with the sleeve valves 20.

The intake manifolds 23 of the cylinders 53 are provided with inlets which are in permanent commun cation with a circular main manifold 6| that is in turn in permanent communication with a branch conduit '62 of an air compressor 63 which is-mounted in any suitable manner on a flange 64 of the crank case It]. pressor is preferably a conventional turbo-supercharger, consisting of a centrifugal compressor which is direct-driven by an exhaust gas turbine.

Inasmuch as the construction and operation of the supercharger does not form any part of the present invention, it is deemed unnecessary to describe the same in detail;

The exhaust manifolds 2d of the cylinders l3 are also preferably in communication with a circular main manifold (not shown).

The cylinder heads I8 are provided with precombustion chambers i9 which are in communication with the interior of the cylinders l3 through ducts H. Mounted in the cyl nder heads l8 for fuel injection into thepre-combustion chambers 10 and cylinders l3 are fuel nozzles 12 of any conventional construction. These nozzles 12 act preferably like check valves that will open in one direction only, to wit, in the direction of the fuel injection. Each fuel nozzle I2 permanently commun cates through a conduit 13 with -a fuel pump 16 which is suitably mounted on the crank case Hi. The fuel pumps i i are preferably plunger pumps which put a metered amrint of fuel periodically under a much higher pressure than that of the combustion air in the cylinders This air comat the time of the fuel injection. The plungers of, the fuel pumps 74, which are guided for linear movement in bushings 16 in the crank case to, have their lower ends lengthwise adjustably secured at H to sleeves 18 which are also guided for linear movement in suitable guides 19, provided by the end wall 40 of the crank case. Each sleeve I8 carries an anti-friction roller which cooperates with a cam disk 8|, suitably mounted on the crank shaft 32. The various fuel pumps M are supplied with fuel from any suitable supply tank (not shown) by means of any conventional low pressure fuel pump (not shown) and suitable conduits (not shown). The cam disc has a single lobe Bla which actuates the plungers T5 of consecutive fuel pumps Hi.

The lubrication of the movable elements of the engine may be accomplished in any suitable manner. Forced lubrication by means of an oil pump (not shown) is however, preferred to any other kind of lubrication. Inasmuch as the lubrication of the engine does not form any part of the present invention, no further comment concerning the. same is deemed necessary.

In operation, the firing of the cylinders takes place in consecutive order as is usual in engines of the Dieselor compression-ignition type. Fig. l, the cylinder l3a has just fired a few degrees before the piston 211a has reached the illustrated, outer dead center position. On continued rotation of the crankshaft 32 from the angular position shown in Fig. 1 in assumed clockwise direction, the piston 21a starts its combustion stroke, i. e., is moved inwardly toward the center of the crank case H3, whereby the master rod i5 imparts a considerable clockwise torque to the crank shaft, as can be readily understood.

The cylinder 13b in Fig. 1 is next to fire. The piston 21b is presently on its compression stroke, i. e., moves outwardly toward the cylinder head I8?) and compresses the previously admitted combustion air in the cylinder chamber b which is defined by the sleeve valve 20?), the cylinder head I8b and the piston 21! The cylinder I30 in Fig. 1 will fire after the cylinder I317. The piston 210 is already on its compression stroke. It will be observed that the exhaust ports 22c and 260 are nearly closed, while the intake ports 2lc and 250 are still considerably open. On slight further rotation of the crank shaft 32, the piston 21c and the valve 200, moving in opposite directions, will cooperate to close the exhaust ports considerably before the valve 200 closes the intake ports (see also Fig. 8). By closing the exhaust ports prior to the intake ports, the combustion air, which is admitted after the closing of the exhaust ports, is free from any products of combustion. v The cylinder I311 in Fig. 1 will fire after the cylinder 030. The piston 21d is in its inner dead center position and the valve 2011 has almost reached outer dead center position in which its intake and exhaust ports 2ld and 22d, respectively, are in full communication with the intake and exhaust ports 25d and 2601, respectively, of the cyl nder liner Md. Compressed air from the continuously operating'supercharger 63 is thus admitted to the cylinder chamber 85d and causes a straight-through scavenging of the cylinder l3d.

The cylinder l3e will fire after the cylinder i311. The piston 210 is near the end of its combustion stroke as is evidenced by the fact that the exhaust ports 26a in the liner Me will shortly communicate with the exhaust ports 22e of the valve 20c, which is on its way to outer dead center position.

The cylinder I3 will fire after the cylinder l3e. More particularly, the piston 21 has just started on a combustion stroke'and imparts a considerable torque to the crank shaft 32.

The sleeve valves 29 have been made of considerable length so as to provide as much guidsaid valves and the connecting rods 45 when the pressed air from theintake latter assume the position 451' in Fig. 1, for instance. r

Referring more particularly to Fig. 3, it will be observed that the intake ports 2| and 25 of the valve and the liner l4, respectively, of a cylinder l3 are so arranged as to admit the comv manifold 23 of said cylinder substantially tangentially into the cylinder chamber 85. Moreover, in order to obtain a substantially uniform flow of .compressed air through all intake ports 25 and 2|, the air is conducted from the main manifold 6| (Fig. 2) into the circular manifold 23 of the cylinder in the tangential fashion shown in Fig. 3. The substantially tangential admission of the compressed through the intake ports 25, 2|.

air into the cylinder chamber 85 causes the admitted air to whirl in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3. Fig. 4, on the other hand, shows that the exhaust ports 22 and 26 of the valve 20 and the liner M, respectively, are so arranged as to permit a substantially tangential discharge of the products of combustion from the cylinder chamber 85 into the circular cylinder manifold 24 in the same direction in which the compressed air enters said cylinder chamber Hence, the admitted, whirling compressed air in the cylinder chamber 85 starts to whirl the products of combustion in the same direction and, in a sense,

.whirls the same from said cylinder chamber into the exhaust manifold 24 of the cylinder without meeting any appreciable resistance. A very thorough, straight-through scavenging of the cylinder chamber 85is thus assured. Also the whirling combustion air; which is admitted to the cylinder chamber 85 while the intake ports 25, 2|

are still open and the exhaust ports are already closed (see Fig. 8), is sufficiently turbulent to bring about a thorough mixing ofsaid air with the injected fuel charge.

In the present instance, the fuel charges for the various cylinders are injected into the precombustion chambers 10 of the cylinder heads ill by the nozzles 12 and the fuel pumps I4. More particularly, the entrance 95 .to each duct ll between a pre-combustion chamber 10 and a cylindr chamber is in alinement with its fuel nozzle '12 as appears from Figs. 1 and 2, wherefore a fuel 'jet issuing from said nozzle is directed into said entrance 95. It appears also from Figs. 1, 2 and 5 that the ducts are straight, inclined and otherwise disposed in a well intended manner for a reason which will bepresently explained. The entrance to each duct H is eccentrically located with respect to the center axis of a cylinder as appears best from Fig. 5. Hence, each duct 1| is so disposed that fuel conducted therebustion which starts in the pre-combustion v chamber for well known reasons and is immediately transmitted to the charge tion chamber of the cylinder. Of course, the whirl of the combustion air will persist near the end of the compression stroke of' a piston when the fuel injection starts, making the above explained, quick atomization of the fuel charge possible.

It is customary to give the piston 21 a lead of a few degrees over the valves 20. This is accomplished by disposing the cranks 33, 34 of the crank shaft 32 in the offset manner as best shown in Fig. 1. By letting the pistons lead the valves in this fashion, the exhaust ports 22, 25 in each cylinder will open prior to the intake ports 25 and 2|, and said exhaust ports will close prior to said intake ports.

Prior opening of the exhaust ports results in the discharge of most of the considerably compressed products of combustion from the cylinder chambers into the exhaust manifolds in which substantially atmospheric pressure prevails, without requiring the aid of compressed air from the supercharger. When the intake ports finally open, the remaining pr oducts of combustion are quickly forced from the cylinder chambers into the exhaust manifolds and the admitted compressed air will thoroughly scavenge said cylinder chambers. Fig. 7 illustrates the degree of opening of the exhaust ports prior to the opening of the intake ports for the offset position of the-cranks 33,34 as shown in Fig. 1. It will be observed in Fig. 7 that the intake ports 25, 2| are still closed, while the exhaust ports 22, 26 are already partially uncovered by the piston 21.

Closing of the exhaust ports prior to the intake ports assures a complete separation of the products of combustion from the combustion air, though the scavenging air and the combustion air is delivered during a single, continuous admission into the cylinder chambers. Hence, the combustion air is pure and not contaminated with any products of combustion which would cause undesired after-burning effects. Fig. 8 illustrates the condition, prevailing as a result of the offset position of the cranks 33, 34 as, shown in Fig. 1, in which the intake ports 25, 2| are still partially open while the exhaust ports 22, 26 have just been closed by the cooperation between the sleeve valve 2|! which moves into its inner dead center position and the piston 21 which is on its compression stroke. That air which is admitted through the partially open intake ports 25, 2| to' the cylinder chamber after the exhaust ports 22, 26 are closed is the combustion air proper which will atomize the later injected fuel charge and render the same combustible.

It-will be appreciated from the foregoing, and it is generally known by those skilled in the art, that a. lead of the pistons over the sleeve valves makes for a very economical consumption of compressed air and, hence, permits the installation of a supercharger of comparatively small capacity which is not bulky and is of comparatively light weight. This is of particular importance if the engine is used in air planes and the supercharger has to compress the rarefied air in higher altitudes.

in the combus- It is, therefore, obvious that the exhaust ports may open considerably before the intake ports if the engine is used in higher altitudes where the atmospheric pressure is considerably lower than near sea level; In that case, the pressure differential between the products of combustion and the atmosphere is so great that the former discharge quickly into the exhaust manifolds,

thus requiring a minimum amount of scavenging air for a very short period of time only.

In order to use the present enginemost efficiently 1n zones anywhere between sea level and high altitudes, hence not for air craft purposes exclusively, it stands to reason that one and the same standard production-engine would require different crank shafts in order to obtain that lead of the pistons over the valves which is most favorable for prevailing atmospheric conditions. In order to enable a manufacturer to produce one standard production type of engine with one standard production type of crank shaft without limiting the most eilicient operation of the engine to a certain atmospheric condition, the present crank shaft 32 is adjustable so that the lead of the pistons over the valves may be changed to suit prevailing atmospheric conditions. This is accomplished by making the crank shaft 32 of two parts MI and I02. The shaft part IOI is integral with the crank 33, whilethe shaft part I02 is integral with the crank 34. Interposed between the cranks 33 and 34 is the cheek 9| which is a separate part and secured to the cranks 33, 34 in the following manner.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 6, the cheek 9|, shown as being in the preferred form ofa disc, is bolted at I03 to the crank 34. A plurality of dowel pins I04 are also provided to prevent shearing of the bolts I03. The cheek 3| is also secured to the crank 33 by means of screws I05 which extend through slots I06 concentric to the crank shaft 32 and are threaded into the crank 33. The crank 33 of the crank shaft is provided with radially spaced sets of dowel holes I01 and I08, while the cheek 9| is provided with sets of dowel holes I09 and H which'are spaced radially the same as the dowel holes I01 and I00, respectively. The dowel holes I01 and I08 of the crank 33 are 10 degrees apart with respect to the axis a:--a: of the crank shaft. The dowel holes I03 of the cheek 9| are also 10 degrees apart, and so are the dowel holes 0 of said cheek. However, the dowel holes I03 are angularly ofiset degrees from their adjacent dowel holes IIO. Thus, by inserting the dowel pins III in the holes I01 and I09 as shown in Fig- 6, the crank 33 may, for instance,- be spaced from the crank 34 an angular distance of 170 then slightly turned relative to the other part until the dowel holes H00. and H01) register with the dowel holes I08, whereupon the dowel pins II I are inserted and the screws I05 re-tightened.

If a lead of 15 degrees should be desired, the dowel holes IIOb and II 00 are brought-into registry with the dowel holes I00 and the dowel pins III inserted therein.

Thus, the preferred embodiment of this feature of the present invention as shown in Fig. 6 provides for three adjustments of the piston lead of 5 degrees each and within a range from 5 degrees to 15 degrees. Obviously, any other adjustable piston leads may be obtained as desired without departing from the present invention.

It is, of course, preferable to make the ad- J'ustment between the cheek 9i and the crank 33 rather than the crank 34, as the latter is smaller in diameter than crank 33 and might be unduly weakened by more than two dowel holes in addition to the tapped holes for the screws.

The reason for removably, though not angularly adjustably, securing the cheek 9| to the crank 34 rather than forming the same integral with said crank resides in the disclosure of six cylinders, which number requires an integral, rather than a divided, master rod which must be slipped over the crank 34 from the end. If the engine is to have less than six cylinders, say four cylinders, it is possible to use a divided master rod and to make the cheek 9| integral with the crank 34.

Driven in any suitable manner from the part I'll. of the crank shaft may be the following non-disclosed devices, namely, the lowpressure fuel pump, the oil pump, and a generator forv light, signal and battery-charging purposes. Furthermore, the part IOI of the crank shaft may -be drivingly connected with aconventional electric starter (not shown) for starting the engine.

In conclusion, the present engine has the following principal advantages besides others that are apparent from the preceding description.

The provision of sleeve type valves and their operation from the crank shaft results in an engine which has relatively few parts that can be easily assembled or interchanged. The cost of production of this engine is, therefore, comparatively low and its eflicient operation depends on the proper operationv of only a few parts. These advantages are even enhanced in an engine of the radial type in which all sleeve valves are operated from a single crank of the crank shaft. The cylinders are readily accessible by merely removing the very simple cylinder heads which carry only the fuel nozzles. It is, therefore, a simple task to remove all carbon from the cylinders, and particularly from the pre-combustion chambers if they are provided in the heads as shown in the drawings.

' The present engine is also in other respects readily accessible for inspection. The end cover 3I can, for instance, be removed to give access to the crank case, nor is it difficult to remove the supercharger and gain access to the operating mechanism for the fuel pumps. This is of particular advantage in airplane engines which have to undergo periodic inspection.

The provision of sleeve valves and the substantially tangential admittance of compressed air to the cylinder chambers as well as the substantially tangential discharge of the products pf combustion therefrom results in a very effective straight-through scavenging of the cylinders.

The previously explained disposition of the communicating ducts 1| between'the pre-combustion chambers and the cylinder chambers 85 results in a quick and complete atomization of the injected fuel charge, particularly since the injected fuel is directed by said ducts so as tov repulse the whirling combustion air in the cylinder chambers.

The angular adjustability of the cranks 33 and 34 of the crank shaft relative to each other renders' the present engine adaptable for most efficient use under any atmospheric conditions and,

hence, for any desired purpose, without requiring different crank shafts with differently ofl'set cranks.

I claim:

1. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder; a slidable valve for controlling the intake and exhaust; a piston in said cylinder; and a crankshaft consisting of two parts, one terminating in an eccentrically disposed crank and the other having a crank and terminating in a check disposed coaxially of the crank shaft, said check being angularly adjustably secured to the first mentioned crank, one of said cranks being-drivingl'y connected with said piston, and the other with saidvalve.

2. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder; a slidable valve for controlling the intake and exhaust; a piston in the cylinder; a crankshaft consisting of two parts, each terminating in an eccentrically disposed crank, and a separate cheek disposed coaxially of the crank shaft and removably secured to one of said cranks and angularly adjustably secured to the other crank; and a rod connecting said cranks with said piston and valve, respectively.

3. In aninternal combustion engine, the combination of a plurality of radially disposed cylinders; aslidable valve in each cylinder for controlling the intake and exhaust; a piston in each cylinder; a. crankshaft consisting of two parts, each terminating in a crank, and a separate cheek removably secured to one of said cranks, the

other crank having a tapped hole and a plurality of dowel holes and said cheek having a slot concentric to the crankshaft axis-and in alignment with said tapped hole and angularly spaced sets of dowel holes, each set of dowel holes being registerable with those of said other crank on rotation of one shaft part relative to the other shaft part, and a screw. extending through said slo.+ and being threaded in said tapped hole and pins hole and a plurality of dowel holes, and said cheek having a slot concentric to the crank shaft axis and in alinement with said tapped hole and angularly spaced sets of dowel holes, each set of dowel holesbeing registerable with those of said other crank on rotation of one shaft part relative to the other'shaft part, and a screw extending through said slot and being threaded in said tapped hole and pins in the registering dowel holes of said cheek and said other crank; and rods connecting said cranks with said piston and valve, respectively.

- JOHN J. McCARTI-IY.

. in the registering dowel holes of said cheek and I 

